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| Disc Specifications |
| Region Coding |
4 |
| Picture Format |
1.66:1 16:9 enhanced |
| Audio Format(s) |
English DD 2
|
| Disc-type |
Dual-layer
Single-sided
Non-flipper |
| Macrovision |
Yes |
| Subtitles |
NONE!
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| Running Time |
112
minutes (PAL) |
| Chapters |
16 |
| Trailer(s) |
Damage |
| Commentry Track |
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| Other Extras |
Production featurette, Jeremy Irons interview, French connection Featurette and Louis Malle interview |
| Starring |
Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson, Rupert Graves and Leslie Caron
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| Classification |
Rated (R18+) |
| RRP |
$ 24.95 |
| Disc Rating |
| Plot |
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| Video
quality |
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| Audio
quality |
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| Extras |
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| Overall |
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THE MOVIE
“Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive”
Damage is based on Josephine Hart’s best selling novel of the same name and was adapted for the big screen by David Hare. Directed and produced by Louis Malle the film centres on a successful British politician and family man who risks everything when he begins an affair with his son’s new girlfriend.
Starring Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardon and Rupert Graves Damage, which was released in 1992 to solid box office in Australia (perhaps driven by the film's poster which is a little misleading as the film is more psychological than nudity and sex scenes) than and worldwide, remains an interesting and engaging film about obsession, lust, unrestrained passion and the inability to always be in control of your life.
While the whole cast turn in good performances in particular Irons is well cast as the emotionally repressed Englishman who is unable to control himself when his passions are unleashed emerge and Miranda Richardson is very powerful as his wife, particularly during the films climax. The pairing of Juliette Binoche and Leslie Caron was also a nice touch from Malle at a time when Binoche was just beginning her film career and Caron was winding hers down. Film buffs should also watch out for David Thewlis in a small role early on in his career, just before he hit the big time with his incendiary performance in Mike Leigh's, Naked.
THE TRANSFER
Video:
This is a variable video transfer (bit rate 7-8 mbps). There is grain and video artefacts throughout and the details are generally soft, particularly with blacks and given that a number of the characters were black is quite noticeable. The print is also very dark in places and colours are a little muted. The layer change is reasonably well placed.
Audio:
A reasonable audio transfer has been provided (bit rate 224 kbps). The dialogue is clear and distinct and there are no lip synching issues. This is a dialogue heavy film and in that context the failure to provide a 5.1 DD audio transfer is not surprising and is no way detracts from the experience of watching the film. The score and other audio effects have been reasonable well rendered.
THE EXTRAS
The DVD provides four extras. These are a production featurette (9m 16s), a Jeremy Irons interview (4m 37s), a French connection Featurette (5m 3s) and a Louis Malle interview (3m 54s). All four features were produced for promoting the film at the time of its release and feature, some limited behind the scenes footage and interviews with the cast (Irons, Binoche, Richardson, Graves and Caron), author Josephine Hart and Louis Malle recorded during the shooting of the film (though Hart’s could have been recorded after but prior to its release). Both the Irons and Malle interviews also feature short excepts of interviews with other cast members and in the case of Iron’s, author Josephine Hart. The interviews contained within these four extras all provide perceptive and insightful comments into the making of the film, the motivations of the characters, the approach of the actors to their characters and the attraction of the story. In addition in the case of the Louis Malle interview he also provides some interesting insights into his general approach to film making, which includes the fact that he has no rules and that casting is the key. All four extras are well worth viewing, though I recommend only doing this once you have watched the film as they do give quite a lot away about the film’s story. Interestingly Binoche refers to rows between her and Irons during the making of the film, which may be a reference to reports at the time that Binoche walked off the set because of Irons physicality during the sex scenes.
Of the editions of Damage released worldwide on DVD this appears to be the best available in terms of the extras provided, which makes a nice change.
SUMMARY
Damage is the 1992 Louis Malle film based on the best selling Josephine Hart novel of the same name about a successful British politican and family man who risks everything when he begins an affair with his son’s new girlfriend. The film stars Jeremy Irons, Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardon and Rupert Graves. Overall this is not a bad DVD, with some good extras and a solid audio transfer. The only issue is a variable video transfer and it is a shame that a better video transfer has not been provided. |
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